Lai Yi repeatedly attempted to condense light spheres until he could no longer produce any. His mental energy depleted excessively, plunging him into unconsciousness.
The yard contained a backpack and a small hoe, with two dead wild birds hanging from the backpack. The house was completely silent.
The scene resembled when his brother was last injured. Neil’s pupils contracted sharply as he frantically dropped his satchel and rushed into the room.
Only upon seeing Lai Yi sleeping on the bed did he feel relieved.
His brother must have gone hunting today.
Neil sighed like a miniature adult and tidied up everything except the game.
Lai Yi had gathered quite a lot of mushrooms this time. Neil kept some to clean while spreading the remainder on thin wooden boards to dry.
As evening approached with Lai Yi still unconscious, Neil finished his schoolwork with nothing else to do. He went out to gather a bundle of firewood, chatting briefly with familiar playmates along the way.
Just as Neil’s stomach began rumbling for the second time, Lai Yi finally awoke.
After his sleep, most of his mental energy had recovered. Neil waited pitifully by his side, stomach still emitting gurgling sounds.
“Hungry?”
Neil nodded, his face slightly flushed.
“How about roasted chicken today?”
Roasted chicken? What’s that?
Well, anything brother makes is delicious!
“Okay!”
A large pot of boiling water sat on the hearth, clearly prepared by Neil during his unconsciousness.
Lai Yi poured scalding water over the smaller red prairie bird and plucked its feathers outside.
Feathers produced too strong an odor, and their small house would become saturated with the smell. He discarded the innards to the yellow dog, declaring he wouldn’t handle them.
The larger red prairie bird was sent with Neil to Haggard’s household.
Located nearer the village center, Haggard’s home was a slightly larger two-story structure.
The couple had raised four children: three boys and one girl.
The two eldest had already married and each had one child.
Village families typically didn’t separate households, combined with people’s long lifespans, resulting in nearly all long-term residents having extensive families.
Entering Haggard’s home, Neil found Linda preparing dinner for the large family while Haggard wove baskets in a shaded outdoor spot.
“Aunt Linda?”
Hearing Neil’s voice, Kelly – wife of the eldest son Brian – rolled her eyes.
“Coming at dinner time again, looking for a free meal,” she muttered deliberately within Linda’s hearing.
The couple’s frequent assistance to the two brothers always displeased her.
The second son’s wife Fara quietly assisted Linda without comment.
Linda banged her spatula twice against the pot’s edge, glaring at Kelly, who immediately shrank back like a quail.
Handing the spatula to Fara, Linda hastily wiped her hands on her apron and hurried out. She found Neil standing outside the low wall, holding a colorful large bird.
“Brother caught a wild red prairie bird today and asked me to bring it for uncle and aunt to eat.”
Neil thrust the bird into Linda’s hands and dashed away before she could respond, fearing her refusal.
“What happened?” Haggard called upon hearing the commotion.
Linda displayed the red prairie bird by its feet for Haggard to see.
“Lai Yi caught it and sent Neil to bring it to us.”
“The boys are very thoughtful. Take it inside.”
“Alright.”
Linda brought the red prairie bird into the kitchen, then called her granddaughter and deliberately had her pack three loaves of bread in front of her two daughters-in-law to deliver to Lai Yi and the others.
Haggard also asked his granddaughter to relay a message, inquiring if Lai Yi would like to ride with them to the market tomorrow.
Neil rushed home panting heavily, wanting to return early to help Lai Yi. As soon as he entered, he saw the red prairie bird had already been cleaned and placed on the table.
Their two-story cottage had a small living room right by the entrance, with a stone-built fireplace against the wall. This space served both for receiving guests and cooking.
The ground floor had two rooms—one for living and one for storage. The second floor also had two rooms. Additionally, they had a small cellar.
“Brother?”
“Here.”
Lai Yi popped his head out from the cellar and tossed a few potatoes upward. Neil gathered them into a basin.
The cellar contained only half a wooden crate of potatoes and a dozen or so sweet potatoes, most of which had begun to sprout. Lai Yi picked out a few that still looked edible and set them aside separately.
He carried the rest, along with the wooden crate, out of the cellar, intending to plant them all in the field.
“Uncle Lai Yi!”
The clear, crisp voice of the little girl could be heard from afar.
Lai Yi gripped the edge of the cellar, using his arms to propel himself upward and emerge from the cellar, which was over a person’s height.
Neil set down the small knife he was using to peel potatoes.
“It’s our little niece, Luna!”
No sooner had Neil spoken than the little girl skipped lightly into the living room.
“Hello, Uncle Lai Yi! Hello, Uncle Neil!” the little girl greeted politely. “Grandma asked me to bring you some bread.”
Her chubby little face and large, light-brown eyes made it impossible not to adore her at first sight.
“Uncle Lai Yi, Grandpa also asked me to see if you’d like to go to the market with us tomorrow.”
Uncle Lai Yi had fair skin and was very handsome—she really liked this uncle.
With their household food supplies running low and the need to learn about the town’s situation, a trip to the market was indeed necessary.
Lai Yi readily agreed, but the little girl’s unwavering stare made him feel a bit puzzled.
Without overthinking it, he broke off a piece of vegetable leaf, wrapped some berries in it, and handed it to Luna.
The little girl’s eyes lit up even more.
Uncle Lai Yi used to stay indoors all the time and rarely interacted with others. Now, although he had a scar on his forehead that made him look a bit fierce, he gave her sweet berries to eat!
Neil’s little radar immediately activated, and he eyed Luna with some wariness.
He felt as though someone was trying to steal his brother away!
After putting the bread away, he subtly urged Luna to hurry home for dinner.
The fragrant roasted bird was served two hours later, just before the sun had fully set.
The two brothers left the door open, enjoying the meal by the remaining daylight—a relatively hearty dinner.
Seasonings were scarce in this area, and sugar was particularly rare. Still, Lai Yi did his best to make the roasted bird delicious.
He used mashed berries as a substitute for honey, lightly brushing a layer onto the red prairie bird before taking it out of the oven. He also arranged chopped potatoes alongside it to roast together.
Additionally, he prepared a bowl of salad with bird eggs and fresh vegetables. Paired with Linda’s bread, the meal left both of them fully satisfied.
At the break of dawn, Lai Yi had a quick bite, then slung a wild hare over his shoulder and headed to Haggard’s house.
Haggard’s eldest son, Brian, had already hitched the oxcart, which was loaded with several tanned hides and some wild game.
Two women from the same village were also at Haggard’s house preparing to take the cart to town. They set off immediately after Lai Yi arrived.
They needed to bypass two low hills to reach the town.
The mountain path was rugged, and the ox cart swayed unsteadily along the road.
Brian drove the ox cart while the two women chatted about daily life. Lai Yi, being a young man, couldn’t join their conversation and could only sit quietly to the side.
Haggard noticed his discomfort and initiated a conversation with him.
“I brought some bread your aunt made. Would you like some?”
Haggard said with a smile, taking out the bread from a basket and offering it to Lai Yi, who hurriedly declined the gesture.
Haggard didn’t mind the refusal and put the bread back into the basket.
“Uncle Haggard, do you know where I can sell this?”
Lai Yi removed the leaves covering the backpack, showing Haggard the Longtooth Beast inside. The two women also craned their necks to look.
“Whoa, such a large Longtooth Beast!” exclaimed the women in surprise.
“Did you catch it yesterday?”
Haggard asked, and Lai Yi nodded.
He lifted the rabbit, gauging its weight.
“It’s quite plump indeed. Wild game still fetches a decent price in town. I know a reliable contact who offers fair prices. I’ll take you there later.”
The two chatted about other matters, and time passed quickly as they talked. They finally arrived at Rosen Town when the sun was high in the sky.
Rosen Town was the only town within hundreds of miles, serving as a trade hub for over a dozen nearby villages.
The town had a permanent population of just over 5,000—a notably sparse number compared to modern towns that often house tens of thousands.
Lai Yi and the others each paid ten copper coins as a toll to the city guard knights before being allowed entry.
Ox carts weren’t permitted in the inner areas, so after entering the town, Haggard parked it at a designated stop, spending a few more copper coins.
They agreed to meet back at the spot during the hottest part of the day, around 2:30 PM, before going their separate ways.
Brian carried hides, and Lai Yi helped with some mountain goods. The two followed Haggard through the streets and alleys.
Initially, the streets were lined with similar two-story houses, and the road was paved with uneven stones. Gradually, the path transitioned to smooth flagstones, flanked by neat three-story buildings, with many well-dressed pedestrians coming and going.
Haggard led them through several twists and turns before stopping at the back door of a small building.
He knocked, and shortly after, someone warmly welcomed them inside.
The shopkeeper, out of respect for Haggard, offered four silver coins for Lai Yi’s Longtooth Beast.
One silver coin was equivalent to one hundred copper coins, and one hundred silver coins could be exchanged for one gold coin. Four silver coins were roughly equal to four hundred modern dollars—a modest but welcome income.
Lai Yi bid farewell to Haggard and left the place, as he had other important matters to attend to.
The residents of Rosen Town, though not particularly plump, all had ruddy complexions, and their clothes showed few patches—a marked improvement in living standards compared to the villagers.
Lai Yi casually asked around and quickly learned Black’s address and the location of the market.
He went to Black’s place first, intending to ask him some questions.
After all, he was a customer who had spent several gold coins—surely, Black would be more than willing to share information.